Agreements

FAPESP- USC CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2013

Public Call for Proposals for the support of research projects involving the Exchange of Researchers under the Scientific Cooperation Agreement between the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) and University of Southern California (USC), USA.

1. Introduction

FAPESP and University of Southern California make public this Call for Proposals and invite interested researchers affiliated to the University of Southern California and researchers affiliated to Higher Education and Research Institutions in the State of São Paulo, to submit research proposals for the exchange of researchers between the State of São Paulo and California, USA, under the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

2. Purpose

The purpose of this Call is to define the conditions for the submission of proposals for the exchange of researchers from the State of São Paulo and from California, USA (researchers, PhD fellows and post-doctoral fellows) within the scope of the Scientific Cooperation Agreement between FAPESP and the University of Southern California. This Call for Proposals is being announced simultaneously by FAPESP and the University of Southern California.

3. Eligibility

3.1 Researchers regarded as eligible to submit proposals within the scope of this Call:

a) By FAPESP: Principal Investigators of ongoing research projects funded by FAPESP within the following schemes: Regular Research Awards, Thematic Projects, Young Investigators, or Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers (CEPIDs/RIDCs). Co-Principal Investigators of ongoing Thematic Projects or CEPIDs/RIDCs are also eligible to apply.

b) By University of Southern California: Full-time faculty of the University of Southern California

4. Fields of knowledge

This Call for Proposals invites research proposals in all the fields of knowledge.

5. Timeline

Announcement of call on FAPESP and USC websites

February 25

Closing date for submission of proposals

June 14th

Notification of successful proposals

September 13th

6. Duration of the project for the exchange of researchers

The activities foreseen in this project should start while the researcher holds a FAPESP research grant or is co-PI of an ongoing FAPESP research project related to the activities of this Call for Proposals. The maximum duration of each project is 12 months, non-extendable.

7. Funding principles

FAPESP will provide funding of up to US$10,000 per proposal and per year and the University of Southern California will each provide funding of up to US$10,000 per proposal and per year, for the period established in the award, to cover reasonable research-related expenses including mobility expenses of researchers and fellows.

7.1 FAPESP will provide the selected proposals with funds for travel (air tickets), health insurance and living allowances for researchers from the State of São Paulo and/or for PHD or Post-Doctoral fellows, through the FAPESP’ Research Internships Abroad - BEPE fellowships, who will visit the University of Southern California, USA.

7.2 University of Southern California will provide the selected projects with funds for travel (air tickets), health insurance, and living allowances for researchers from California, USA, visiting the State of São Paulo. Travel expenses reimbursed by University of Southern California must be in accordance with university policy for travel expenses.

8. Proposal characteristics

Each proposal submitted in English, with one copy sent to the University of Southern California and another copy to FAPESP, shall contain:

8.2) Summary of the CV of the Principal Investigators and the candidates for the exchange activities collaborating researchers on both sides, FAPESP and the University of Southern California (bio sketch instructions at www.fapesp.br/en/6351).

8.3) Budget worksheets specifically designed for this Call (please enclose detailed budget according to FAPESP standards – worksheet available for download at www.fapesp.br/chamadas/chamadas/usc/fapesp_usc_budget.xlsx; for USC, budget can be submitted in any format), including BEPE fellowships, if applicable.

8.4) Research project with a maximum of five (5) pages of scientific content, including the following items:

8.4.1. Summary of the project to which the proposal is related, including current and expected results;

8.4.2. Description of which lines of activity of the ongoing project of the PI in São Paulo related to the proposal will benefit from the exchange;

8.4.3. Description of which lines of activity of the ongoing or proposed project of the PI at the University of Southern California, USA, will benefit from the exchange.

8.4.4. Description of the expected academic gains for the ongoing project as a result of the proposed cooperation, emphasizing their singularity and specificity;

8.4.5. Details of the activities foreseen in the exchange, objectively described, including justification and relevance, and the definition of the corresponding performance indicators. The role of the technical team from the executing institution must be explained;

8.4.6. Description of infrastructure and financial resources available for developing the research project in São Paulo and at the University of Southern California, USA, excluding the mobility/travel expenses requested in the proposal;

8.4.7. Planned activities, including seminars, short courses, visits to other institutions that carry out research activities in relevant areas;

8.4.8. Travel schedule.

8.4.9. Signature of USC dean indicating approval to participate.

8.5 For each BEPE fellowship requested, an Activity Plan (2 pages or less) for the eventual recipient of the fellowship must be included as an annex to the Research Project. The Activity Plan shall contain: Title, Summary, Description of Objectives, Work Plan including expected results and the justification for the modality of BEPE fellowship requested.

9. Submission of proposals

9.1 The same proposal must be submitted, before the deadline specified in section 5, both to FAPESP by the Principal Investigator from the State of São Paulo and University of Southern California by the Principal Investigator from California, USA.

9.1.1 The Research Proposal, described in item 8.4 must be in the form of one single 5 page documentwritten jointly by the PI in State of São Paulo and the PI at the University of Southern California, USA.;

9.1.2 Submissions to FAPESP must be in the form of a Regular Research Award related to the ongoing project (enter information in the field 6 of the FAPESP submission form). This grant must be exclusively directed to this call and abide to its rules. Submissions to FAPESP can only be accepted in paper, via mail (not through the on-line system SAGe);

9.1.3 Proposals not received by both parties before the deadline or not in conformity to the specifications herein will be reviewed in the following cycle, provided sufficient funds remain available.

9.1.4 Only the proposals selected by both Parties will be funded.

No proposal will be accepted after the closing date for submission, nor will any addendum or explanation be accepted, unless those explicitly and formally requested by FAPESP or University of Southern California.

9.2 Submission must be sent to:

9.2.3 FAPESP: all proposals either related to grants processed via FAPESP’s electronic system (SAGe), or not, shall be sent to FAPESP in paper copy, to the following address: Rua Pio XI, 1500, Alto da Lapa, CEP 05468-901 – São Paulo/SP, with “Chamada FAPESP/UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 2013” written on the envelope.

9.2.4 Submission to the University of Southern California must be sent by email to vpres@usc.edu with subject line: “Sao Paulo Proposal Submission”

9.3 Proposals submitted by any other means will not be accepted.

10. Analysis and selection

10.1 The process of analysis, qualification and selection of the proposals received at FAPESP will be carried out by an ad hoc committee especially appointed by the Foundation’s Scientific Director

10.2 The Vice-President of Research of the University of Southern California will consult faculty reviewers to evaluate and prioritize proposals received at the University of Southern California.

10.3 The proposals will be pre-qualified and, subsequently, reviewed by way of a competitive process which will evaluate the merit and relevance of the project and the academic excellence of the candidate, the relation of the proposed project to the researcher’s ongoing project funded by FAPESP, and the interest of the institution that will host the researcher.

10.4 Proposals which do not comply with the terms of this Call for Proposals will be considered “not qualified”.

11. Result of the analysis

Final results will be announced on FAPESP (www.fapesp.br) and the University of Southern California web portals and by means of a communication to the interested parties.

12. Contract for selected projects

12.1 The selected proposals will be the subject of a research agreement in writing to be signed by FAPESP and the Principal Investigator in São Paulo and an agreement between the Principal Investigator and the University of Southern California.

13. Grant cancellation

FAPESP may cancel funding if, during grant implementation, a fact is of sufficient gravity to justify cancellation, at the Scientific Board of Directors’ discretion, without prejudice of any other appropriate actions.

14.Information about the Call for Proposals

All questions related to this Call for Research Proposals must be directed to: